Reagan not solely responsible for end of Cold War

[serbin16m]

The wall in Berlin came down too fast they didnt take the time to accommodate the very different command style economies of Eastern Europe, they simply tore down the wall and united the very different economies, they should have done it slower because not only did the East feel the aftereffects the Germans and the Deutchmark was also hurt by it.

[vandboeffel]

@serbin16m I doubt that it was possible to choose a slow solution. You just cannot have one country with two different economic systems. The only thing to do was a rapid fusion of the countries, and then let government money try to level out the immediate socio-economic problems. Which I think, was what actually was done.

[serbin16m]

@vandboeffel What should have been done was a series of reforms and privatizations across the East no matter how long it would have taken, instead of integrating the economies overnight and watching the East German economy as well as the West German economies suffer

[vandboeffel]

@serbin16m The problem was that the DDR-production-apparatus was not competitive in a market economy, so either you would have to close the border again to avoid massive emigration, which ofcourse was not politically possible or you would have to put the majority of the former DDR-citizens on welfare checks or you would have to integrate the economies quickly. In a market economy there is no time to wait - and the East Germans were already 50 years behind.

[serbin16m]

@vandboeffel Yes you slowly open the borders, slowly but properly privatize the economy of the East, encourage investment and reform and in 5-10 years the economy of East will have caught up to the West, imagine if the DPRK and South Korea united tomorrow, it would be a disaster considering S. Korea is a high tech industrialized market state and the DPRK is a state run, inefficient collectivization agrarian communist state, South Korea would get such a blow to its economy

[vandboeffel]

@serbin16m On the contrary South Korea would get a boost to the economy - with the influx of cheap labour and a whole new market. But ofcourse the people from the South would have to economically uphold their northern brothers and sisters in a transisional phase. You can't "slowly" open the borders. People have been crying for freedom for 50 years - they don´t want new Berlin walls. But for the market economy to work efficiently you need free movement of people, money and goods.

[slr1238]

fact-Ronald Reagan won the cold war.Our children and future generations must learn this truth.The left wing liberal media always lies just like their evil devil hero karl marx.Well karl marx is the opium to the american people.Screw karl marx.i am an independent because i didn't leave the democrat party,they left me.the media people who tell the truth are laura ingraham,michael savage,mark levin,rush limbaugh,sean hannityand glenn beck.beck called reagan the perfect president.Amen!

[v19d]

@Kyderdog Actually the Cold War was really declared by the British. The Iron Curtain speech was a idea given to Churchill by a if you guess right a German War Criminal.

[warriorprince1010]

Reagan and Thatcher did indeed stand up to state slavery [socialism] and defeat it. Millions were freed from slavery as a result. Well done to Thatcher and Reagan.

[RockyBalboa211]

Well Reagan was a contributing factor in the end of the Cold War, Yet Russia contributed to it as well, and the Church contributed in Poland. Overall, Reagan's America outspended Russia and led to its demise in some sorts. Reagan's economic values though are questionable, but overall I blame all the other presidents after him for actually doing nothing substantial to help the economy.

[bobgee1999]

Reagan prolonged the Cold War, he certainly didn't end it. He didn't even know about, because those in charge of keeping him informed, the CIA, were totally in the dark.

[RonPaulGeorgeRingo]

Solidarity, a Polish Pope, communications technology, and the Soviet war in Afghanistan, (ALL of which predate the start of Reagan's presidency) had just as much to do with the Soviet collapse, not to mention Gorbachev, Truman, Eisenhower, JFK, and every other American president, soldier, and civilian that fought the Cold War. Reagan did his share for sure, but we now know that by the time he became president, the Soviet Union was going bankrupt.

[warriorprince1010]

Socialist policies create wealth for the governing few and poverty for the masses. Poor economic policies from the Socialist bankrupted the Soviets. Reagan and Thatcher showed a solid defense against the Soviets.

[RonPaulGeorgeRingo]

Reagan: Timing & Context

Reagan failed in his bid for the presidency in 68 & 76.

In 80, he had the good fortune of running during the Iranian hostage crisis.

As long as the hostages remained in captivity, Mickey Mouse, Stalin, & the Ayatollah would have beaten Carter that year. Hell, my grandmother would have beaten Carter that year, & she wasn't even alive.

All of Reagan's budgets were MASSIVE red ink - BEFORE they even got to congress!

Reagan conservatism: A credit card & a flag

[eldubioso]

Glasnost and Perestroika were two programs that were incompatible with a totalitarian empire a such as the Soviet Union. Thanks Gorby! When the people realized that the emperor wears no clothes, similar to the emerging situation in the RF today, the writing was on the wall.

[furiasha]

Eldubioso - do you mean similar to the situation in the US, talking about the emperor with no clothes? I agree, there's plenty of parallels, even the war in Afganistan. But the Americans just as Russians did ,will eventually emerge out of chaos and find their own peacefull path.

[eldubioso]

No. The emperor was Gorby and the Soviet Union holds the record for the shortest time that an empire existed - 70 years. Now Putin, who is the kingmaker, leads his band of criminals and tries to convince his people that Russia is strong, when it is not. He is trying to reverse glasnost with the revision of history. It's too late. The empire will never return. Russia is not on a peaceful path, but stirring the soup. America still keeps Russia in balance, while Europe does nothing.

[furiasha]

Gorbachev -an emperor? He distroed the empire, actually. What soup,what revision? America is colaborating with Russia on many issues and Europe too. The relationship looks better than ever and is beneficial for everyone. Despite or thanks to the economic troubles all over the world a new conciousness has been born and the understanding that when your hurt me, you hurt yourself (Afganistan is an example). The world is small,we learn to accept people the way they are. Peace, man.

[eldubioso]

Anyone who led the Soviet Union could be considered an emperor, even if they went by the title of First General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. But Gorby was the most progressive. Russia stirred the soup in Georgia and will most surely do it again elsewhere. It would be naive to think that we all achieved a higher consciousness, b/c wars will continue. Putin's program of ultra-nationalism contradicts the Western path of peaceful coexistence.

[furiasha]

Everybody knows by now, in Europe at least that Georgia attacked Russia. I don't see any more nationalists in Russia than in any other European country which is partially a reaction to globalisation. Of course no country is perfect and Russia has lots of problems too. And before you start talking of the Western path check out the situation in Afghanistan, Iraq etc. As for Gorby - consider him however you want to, but he's already left his very significant and positive mark on human history.

[SillyGrandpa]

Yesterday, during the celebration of the fall of the Berlin Wall, the German Chancellor Angela Merkel acknowledged the tremendous contribution of the Poles, Lech Walesa and Solidarity and the inspiration that was provided to the East Germans. Hillary Clinton in her impressive speech mentioned the role of John Paul II. Lech Walesa had the honor of pushing the first "domino" in Berlin on the 2oth anniversary of the fall of the wall.

[SillyGrandpa]

....upon hearing this, the East Germans made a dash for the open Hungarian border to Austria. The Czechoslovaks had their Velvet Revolution. The Romanians in December 1989 executed Nicolai Ceaucescu and his wife and the Romanians reclaimed their country. Todor Zhivkov of Bulgaria resigned after 40 years in power. The "republics" of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia declared independence as well as Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, etc., and all the "-stans", ie. Kazakstan, Turkmenistan, etc.

[SillyGrandpa]

..........the costly Soviet involvement in Afghanistan. The persistence of the Polish people throughout the 1980's in striking/ demonstrating for change in their country even after the declaration of Marshall Law in Dec 1981. In June 1989, the Poles threw out the communists in partially free elections. In August, the first non-communist Prime Minister (Tadeusz Mazowiecki) in a Soviet bloc nation was elected. The stage was set. The Hungarians acted quickly by opening the border with Austria.....

[SillyGrandpa]

There were many who were involved in the fall of the Iron Curtain. Here is my opinion. 1978, the election of Pope John Paul II and his trip in June 1979 to Poland which inspired the Polish people. In August 1980 the emergence of Lech Walesa and Solidarity. 1981, the appearance of Ronald Reagan. Margaret Thatcher and Helmut Kohl. The passing of three hard line Soviet Communists within 3/4 years.....Brezhnev, Andropov, Chernenko and the emergence of Mikhail Gorbachev in 1985. Continued..........

[Vidas666]

At that time R. Reign was out of his brain

[sinitskyd]

Saudi Arabia deserves the most credit for ending cold war, by dumping cheap oil on the world markets and bankrupting the Soviet Union. The second place belongs to Afgan mujahedeen. The third place belongs to the manufacturers of Russian vodka, wine, beer, glue and other alchogolic products used in that country. The fourth place belongs to Winnie the Pooh.

[MrDoublehappy]

The first three points I agree with they are sound

The Pooh Bear however is sacred!!!! How could be so Scandalous!!!!!!

[ejeepin]

Two different Reagans? He moderated? This guy is an idiot thinking Reagan "gave in" and agreed to disarmament talks! Reagan held firm until the Russians were willing to give up their failed socialist prison camp system called Marxism. That was the Reagan plan all along. Just like in business, you force your competitor to spend themselves to death.

[Yowzahh]

I grew up during that time. Reagan did indeed help bring down that wall AND the Soviet Union. He had the guts and the vision to stand up and speak out against real injustice and to call tyranny and evil exactly what they were. His advisors told him not to say "tear down that wall" but he did it anyway. Because he was a true leader. Reagan was more than words - he brought REAL "hope and change", unlike Obama, who didn't even attend the ceremony today. He's an egotistical phony.

[averageworkinggal]

Reagan was an intellectual genius and the Loony Left hates him for being that.

[Redcarpet01]

An intellectual genius? ROFL, you got proof of that?

[averageworkinggal]

@Redcarpet01 just provided conclusive proof of being a dolt.

[averageworkinggal]

Reagan recognized that there were criminal regimes, that the Soviet Union was a criminal regime, that containment was a flawed strategy, that the Soviet Union was a bankrupt nation and that it was time to win the Cold War - and he was the catalyst that triggered the collapse of Communism along with Solidarity in Poland and other Eastern Europeans yearning to be free of the yoke of communist tyranny.

It's nice that Gorby didn't want to go down in history as a mass murdering monster like Stalin.

[global2012]

How long is this 20th anniversary celebration going for?It's a very joyous celebration nice to see.

[pointguard11]

Reagan was instrumental in taking on communism

[MoscowMaestro]

But yanks and Israelis have built a new wall of their own in Gaza.

Complete hypocrisy.

[murk2002]

First of all the US didn't build the wall in Gaza it was the Isralis. Th hypocirsy is that most Russians want to live in the past, the Cold War is over the wall is down and most of the former Soviet countreis are in NATO and the EU : )

[MoscowMaestro]

You're as ignorant as FUCK, aren't you?? Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahaha­hahaha!!!

FUCK OFF AND DIE, yankee cunt

[murk2002]

Another bitter Russian troll, haha. Geto over it.

[MoscowMaestro]

Perhaps you could tell us the list of ex-USSR countries who are in NATO, you gutless syphilitic freak?

Looking forward to your being unable to do so as usual, ASSHOLE

[murk2002]

MoscowMaestro - I can't believe you don't know this you Russian Troll!! Czech Rep, Poland, Latvia, Estonia, Romania, Lithuania, Slovenia, Hungary and Slovakia.

Coming Soon: Georgia and Ukrain.

Haha, so you loose troll : )

[MoscowMaestro]

BWAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!

Only *two* of those are ex-USSR states, you moronic illiterate CUNT!!!

And you can't even *spell* the word "lose" you useless piece of YANKEE SHIT!!!

EPIC FAIL!! Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahaha!!­!

[XICANOXOC]

Of course Reagan was not solely resposible for the end of the cold war but it did sound cool when he said "Mr. Gorbechove TEAR DOWN THIS WALL!!!

[ForTehNguyen]

for sure Carter didnt do anything to help end it

Planned economy ended the Cold War

[CSHOOLIGAN]

Reagan is used as a cult of personality by the GOP. In the schools I went to the programs I learned simplified everything, ex- Reagan was some kind of hero that ended the cold war, and WW2 leasons were mostly about the Jewish holocaust. Reagan is what many picture any US president as being, an actor. In his struggle against communism, his administration started the decrease of the middle class. If the US "capitalists" hate communism why make money off it, for example trade with China.

[yo1dude1man]

Good write up CSHOOLIGAN. Reagan did indeed bring in a new era - "Just read the Tele-Prompt, smile & wave to the crowd" U.S. President.

Fall of communism paved the way for capitalist corporations to move in & exploit their cheap, but well educated, labor markets.

And if you really think about this - American labor markets have indirectly suffered by this vacuum, shifting of our good paying jobs overseas, & high unemployment.

This was all by design. Reagan is no hero, accept to the Elite class.

[nirbija]

"Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall", reagan.

It is childish to think that reagan ended Cold War.

reagan was in office when Cold War ended; that's about it!

It is only the under-educated and mis-educated children of America would delude themselves that reagan ended Cold War

The unambiguous quote is there for students of history to correctly conclude that reagan was actually BEGGING for the Cold War to end!

Cold War was ended & Berlin united by the conscious & deliberate Creators of Peace!

[KhmerD0g]

economically speaking, reagan and the two bush presidents are causing the collapse of america. they spent too much money. heck, all presidents after JFK deserve to be in jail. they cause great pain to america. bankrupt america here we go.

[jmjfanss]

And nobama is continuing it.

[tirpitz19]

No ,actually he's trying to fix the horrendous problems left by 8 years of republican leadership.

[KhmerD0g]

no. obama is not educated on economic. he has no experience running such a big and complex country. he's a constitutional professor. his only experienced is as a social worker. he will destroy america. that i guarantee. obama doesn't do anything but printing money out of thin air. he is following zimbabwe and weimar republic to hyperinflation. print money out of thin has proven time again and again that it didn't work. cambodia can print money too. why aren't they prosperity and rich nation?

[Redcarpet01]

He's had experience as a state and Federal Senator. That was enough for the American public. Don't like it? Too bad

[Redcarpet01]

? He's planning to cut the deficit in half, jeez. Do you pay attention or what?

[KhmerD0g]

u sounded sarcastic. the dollar is already toast. fiat currency is all about confidence. once that is gone the currency is valueless. gold went to $1111.30 and settled to $1100.70.

obama can not cut the deficit because he has to either raise tax or/and cut entitlement programs. those two are politically suicide. as for raising interest rate to fight inflation, that would kill off recovery. that is not possible either. only option is print money until recovered, but risk hyperinflation.

[msamour]

Funny that in the U.S. the people would solely give credit to Reagan, and not even consider all the other players that made it possible. The blue print whereby Gorbachev worked on the controlled collapse of the Soviet Union was written and planned in Ottawa, Canada. Gorbachev, it was revealed spent many weeks in Canada discussing with the Ambassador, and the Canadian Prime Minister of the time how to best achieved a bloodless transition.

[Sismiques]

☭★LIEBE DER DDR!☭★

[KhmerD0g]

who cares about the fall of the berlin wall. it gonna happen anyway whether it be 1989, 2009 or 3009. bush built the wall of bagdad. it's still up and it will go down.

[Nabster133]

stupid basterd -.-

[KhmerD0g]

great wall of china was built to keep the invaders out. now it is nothing but a tourist attraction. wall serves its purpose in certain period of time and time makes walls obsolete. time will bring down any barriers.

[KhmerD0g]

big fucking deal. the berlin wall fell. hahahaa

israel builds the wall separating the palestinians for decades. nobody talks about that.

[Redcarpet01]

He had no responsibility whatsoever